T
he University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Military Science, housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, may be small in size, but it’s big in results. Twelve UTC Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program graduates were commissioned in the U.S. Army as second lieutenants following the 2020-2021 academic year. The May commissioning ceremony involved the largest ROTC graduating class since the program was reactivated at the University in 2007. “We are continuing to grow and produce quality officers for the United States Army,” says Capt. A.J. Herink, head of the department. “We have between 60 to 70 cadets in the program every year, but they don’t have to make a decision if they want to contract with us until junior year—and getting up at 6 a.m. to go running every morning isn’t for everyone. “To see our largest cohort at one commissioning is great. It shows the
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continued support we receive from the University and the campus partners in the community. Students have been actively seeking us out.” The Army is specific that degrees must be conferred before ROTC cadets can be commissioned. This year, the UTC conferral date was May 8. The commissioning ceremony, which includes oaths and first salutes, took place May 15 at The Westin Chattanooga. “Once they get the gold bars placed upon them, there are no take-backs,” Herink says. “The Army regulation is very clear: We have to wait until final grades are in.” Seven of the newly commissioned officers received bachelor’s degrees from programs offered within the College of Arts and Sciences: Taylor Ayers (political science), Active Duty Air Defense Artillery; Evan Cowger (psychology), Active Duty Field Artillery; Audrey Creighton (environmental science). Active Duty Ordnance Corps; Connor Dufrane (political science), Army
